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NHTSA Investigating Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner For Shattering Glass - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the 2010-11 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner for a rear window that could randomly shatter. To date, the agency has received 18 complaints regarding the shattering glass. According to the various reports, the problem can occur both when the tailgate is open and closed.

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2011 Ford Escape Owner Comments

Escape XLT V6

Automatic transmission

52,278 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2011 Ford Escape rear window exploded while it was parked in the parking lot. No reason, no rocks, or foul play! Come on FORD do something to help compensate this obvious issue! Very lucky my children were not in the vehicle at the time as glass was found exploded throughout the inside of the vehicle as well. Glad to have various business owners track me down and help with the cleanup in the lot! Horrible blatant disregard for peoples safety FORD!

Escape XLT

Escape LX 3.2L

Automatic transmission

88,000 miles

Went to go out, glass all over the driveway. checked back and the rear window was gone. Called the police and he came and they could not find any rocks or any breakends. it just blew out and I had to pay $540.00 to get fixed because our deducible was $500.00.

Escape Hybryd V6

Automatic transmission

18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I closed the lift gate and the glass exploded inside and out. Broken glass everywhere to clean up. Needed a tow. The Ford dealer said that it had to be damaged for that to happen. Turns out my car was built 3 days before they put out a technical bulletin. They knew there was a problem but did not fix it before the vehicle was sold.

Escape

Automatic transmission

38,525 miles

I got up this morning and thought there was gravel sprayed all over my driveway. Turns out that it was my rear window! It was completely shattered with no evidence of anything missing from my car and even the police thought it was odd that most of the glass was in the driveway and not the car. I had the idea to look up problems on line and lo and behold....complaints about this issue.

I did call Ford and they don't have any records of any other problems like this on file..but if there is any problems make sure to save your receipt in case of a recall at any time...

Escape Limited V6

Automatic transmission

48,000 miles

click to see larger images

After buying the car I learned of the recall. Now that my window has exploded, conveniently for Ford company, my vin was not included in the recall. I have spoken with the dealer where the car was purchased, called the Ford Motor Consumer Line, and registered a complaint with the national highway safety institute to no avail!

I was sitting at a red light when for no reason, the back window exploded into the car! Scary! My car is full of glass and my kids were scared to death!. Thank god no one was injured. And what assistance do I get from Ford??? Sorry for your luck! I will never purchase another Ford in my life. Cannot believe the level of lack concern that I have received from everyone involved. Could have been so much worse, flying glass could have injured my children or myself. Not to mention that it was so loud that I'm lucky I wasn't driving or it could have caused me to swerve and loose control of the car!

Nothing hit the glass to cause the breakage, rear defrost was not on, so have no idea what could have triggered this to happen. Way to stand by your products Ford. No wonder you are in such financial problems. I for one will go back to buying my foreign made Hyundai's. Never had any issue with that car or getting recalls fixed. Definitely didn't have to worry about windows exploding!

I hope all Escape owners read this! Maybe together we can get this covered! Great idea to put a sign in my car window and let the world know about Fords lack of concern for their customers safety!

Escape

Automatic transmission

21,524 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dec 29,2013, while lowering the back hatch the rear window exploded shattering glass outward at both mine and my son's face, and over my dog as well. The sound was loud, like a gunshot or bomb going off, frightening the wits out of all of us as our first thought was we had been shot at. We were covered in shards of sharp glass, scratching my forehead, and hand, making my finger bleed. This episode was not only frightening to say the least, but could have been permanently disabling.

I have never been notified by Ford that this has been a problem for over two years. I brought my Escape into East-Court Ford in Scarborough, and was informed that it was not covered by warranty or recall. The complaint was sent to Ford, and rejected, again because it was out of warranty. Stephen, Service Adviser, and Mark Silverman, owner both denied knowing of previous problems, stating they don't look at the internet as only the information from Ford is accurate. I was offered a $40 discount and a courtesy car.

I feel Ford has been negligent by not recalling the Escapes for this potentially life-threatening issue. I have seen complaints and pictures of rear window explosions exactly like mine dating back two years! Ford, however, has not put customer safety as a priority, to say nothing about service or satisfaction.

I have contacted Ford Canada customer service speaking to both the customer service rep, and the supervisor, both deny knowing of any incidents of exploding rear windows,and again I was told that there is no recall, and my vehicle is out of warranty by three months. I have had no choice but to go ahead with the repair since I need my vehicle, however I will make it my mission to get the word out to as many other Escape owners of this potential hazard. It is not clear if the defective glass is still being re-installed for the replacement, as no one could give me an answer about this. Therefore, I will put a sign on my Escape warning others of the exploding glass hazard, and hopefully as I drive around people will know just how disgusted I am with Ford's quality, and lack of concern for safety, and the fact that they do not stand behind their products by doing the right thing and recalling this hazardous defective rear window.

I will never buy another Ford, and I will tell as many people as I can during my lifetime to NEVER purchase a Ford. Repeat business and customer satisfaction are not important to Ford. No wonder they are in financial trouble!

Update from Feb 5, 2014: I have had the rear window repaired, costing $500.00 plus tax, at East-Court Ford. They did not assure me that the window has been replaced with glass that will not explode again. Once again they deny knowing of any previous problems with Ford rear windows. I have only been told that if a re-call does occur I will be re-inbursed for the repair. Very unsatisfactory and disappointing FORD! Never again will I buy one of your vehicles!

Escape Limited V6

Automatic transmission

25,544 miles

click to see larger images

After having my 2011 Ford Escape Limited for only one (1) year an four (4), months I never in life would had thought the rear window would explode, On 9/7/2012 I drove to work with the front and back defrost on because it was a little foggy that morning. I parked my car in the barb wire fence at my place of employment,30 minutes went by when one of the consumers ran in the building and stated "My back window had just exploded". I took my car back where it was purchase.The first thing the lady stated to me was that "Windows are not covered under warranty". I told her I needed to know why the window just exploded and could this happen again at any time i turned on the defrost. I could not get an appropriate answer from her, so I left feeling the need for an answer to my dilemma. She didn't help me nor did she respond to my questions, it was bad customer service, so I called to talk with her manager,The manager had me come back to take a picture of my window. The manager stated he was sorry for the worker not giving good customer service. He put a claim in to Ford service department. I received a call 3 hours later "stating they decline the window" I am truly disgusted and frustrated with the answers I am receiving about this incident as I feel I am not at fault in any way and that Ford may have a system malfunction going on and not even beware about it. Ford could have taken my car and looked at it and given me a rental until they could have figure out what the problem is and who is at fault. I am just Thanking God my family was not in the car.

Escape SPE V6

The SUV was parked on the driveway and when I was about to get in to drive it work, I saw all glass pieces all over the place. I checked the internet and found similar complaints.

I called my dealer, Terrace Ford Lincon in Oakville and told them the rear hatch window exploded when parked overnight on the driveway. The service department refused to accept it as a defect and said that they were not aware of any incidents. I checked the internet and at least four cases were reported and mentioned that to the service person taking the call. He denied it and said that the vehicle left their dealership in perfect condition and they are not responsible for anything that happens after a vehicle leaves the dealership. I was shocked as I had three other cars and never experienced such lack of customer service. He kept telling me that I could explain the issue to him the whole day and his response would be the same. He did not care even when I told him that our other cars are over 10 years old and this is the newest vehicle that had the window explode for no reason whatsoever.

I called Speedy Glass and they confirmed other Ford SUVs were brought to their shop with the same issue. We had to pay to replace reach hatch window and I think it should be Ford who should be standing by their defective product sold to customers. This is the first Ford vehicle that we brought and our experience has not been good. I would like Ford to reimburse me for a defective product.

Escape 2.5L I4

Automatic transmission

4,700 miles

Purchased my 2011 Ford Escape XLT AWD 2.5 I4 March 2011 and after closing the hatch on 22 Nov 2011 my rear windshield Exploded. Called Insurance company and dealership! I plan to go to dealership and complain along with the print out of other complaints!

Escape

Automatic transmission

7,150 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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I went out to do a good deed and jump start a stranded driver in my work parking lot. I opened my trunk and pulled out my jumper cables and left the trunk open (NOT WINDOW) hatch. I did the jump and put my jumper cables back in the emergency case. When I closed my trunk the back window EXPLODED, I thought i was getting shot at! I stood there in disbelief!

I am like this is a 2011 how could something like this happen? I called my dealership i bought it from PLANET FORD IN SPRING TX, talked to service to see what i needed to do since i had cover to cover warranty on the vehicle. I spoke to the service department and they said they've never heard of this. She's like "bring it in and we will have the manager look at it and they will reach out to Ford to see if it's covered" I am like how long will that be? Well a day or two.. I am like no way i'll call you back, in the mean time i found out that i could take my car to any Ford dealership so i took it to TOMBALL FORD, pulled in they took my info manager looked at it said replace it it's under warranty.. done

Only part is that i did not have a car for 2 days for repair, they did shuttle me to work and back to pick up the car. I am very concerned about this issue, it scared me to death, i shook all day at work, I was afraid to open or close anything with glass. Now i am concerned that this may happen again, I bought this for that space back there and if i can't use it because i am affraid the glass may explode at me.. oh wait the explosion.. it was horrible!! Glass shards went all over me in my hair, my clothes, i had to go home and change, thank God i wear glasses and this was not as bad as it could have been.

Escape XLT V4

Automatic transmission

400 miles

I just bought a 2011 Escape XLT and have 400 miles on it. Two days ago (Jan 7, 2011) I went shopping and had just put my packages in the back and closed the rear door and put the cart in the parking lot cart area and turned around to find my rear window had exploded. Glass every where. Luckily no one was hurt. I returned to my Ford dealer who informed me this was the third occurrence of the Escape rear window exploding for no reason that had been reported to their dealership. Ford will cover the replacement but what about the next time, not just the inconvenience but the possibility of an injury. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FORD ESCAPE REAR WINDOW DESIGN!!!!!!!!! WISH I HAD NEVER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.

Escape XLT 4 cyl

Automatic transmission

7,040 miles

I showed my vehicle to my friends. I closed the whole back hatch of the truck(not too hard) and the rear window just exploded with a loud bang!!! Right in my face. I suspect the pressure exerted on the glass by the gas springs made it seem like an explosion. The springs were hanging out of the opening, and the wiper motor assembly was dangling. Exterior temperature was -10 Celsius. I bought my car in January 2011.

I called my dealer and they said they never see this....I tell just tell them to go on internet to see the problem. After, the dealer accepted fixing my window under warranty. Dealer will by repaired for free, no charge. New window and new spring. Thanks for your complaint. You helped me to receive a free reparation.

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